Stanley Fish's New Book on Academic Freedom

George Leef

In this week's Pope Center Clarion Call, I review Versions of Academic Freedom by Professor Stanley Fish. Many readers who know Fish's reputation will probably be surprised at his minimalist position regarding academic freedom -- what he calls the "It's Just a Job" school. Throughout the book, he argues with those who make more grandiose claims for academic freedom, mainly to use it as cover for all kinds of political and ideological advocacy. I agree with Fish that demands regarding "academic freedom" are mostly just guild-like pleading that everyone else must leave academics to do their thing. I'm not sure if he'd agree with me that there does not have to be a single, one-size-fits-all approach to academic freedom but that we can and should leave it to marketplace wrangling.

Image: University of Chicago Press Books

  • Share

Most Commented

May 20, 2025

1.

How Female is Campus Anti-Semitism?

The anecdotal evidence is starting to pile up while academia’s thesis that white men are source of evil continues to crumble....

March 31, 2025

2.

Keeping Watch

Columbia's descent into chaos is by its own hand. Actions to right the university must be swift and tough....

March 24, 2025

3.

A Reckoning for Higher Education?

Are American colleges and universities finally getting their comeuppance?...

Most Read

May 15, 2015

1.

Where Did We Get the Idea That Only White People Can Be Racist?

A look at the double standard that has arisen regarding racism, illustrated recently by the reaction to a black professor's biased comments on Twitter....

May 20, 2025

2.

How Female is Campus Anti-Semitism?

The anecdotal evidence is starting to pile up while academia’s thesis that white men are source of evil continues to crumble....

April 30, 2025

3.

In Memoriam: David Horowitz

We celebrate and remember the life of David Horowitz, a champion of intellectual freedom and truth-telling during a long era of lies, collective self-deception, and institutional malfea......